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Best Foreign Languages & Linguistics Schools

2023 Best Foreign Languages & Linguistics Schools

247 Colleges
$31,172 Avg Salary
$22,048 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Foreign Languages & Linguistics School for You

Foreign Languages & Linguistics is the #24 most popular major in the country with 33,333 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.

It's not easy to decide which program to enroll in when you have so many options available. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Also there are many trade schools that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Best Foreign Languages & Linguistics Schools to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 247 schools in the United States to see which ones offered the best programs for students.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Foreign Languages & Linguistics Schools in the United States

The following schools top our list of the Best Foreign Languages & Linguistics Colleges.

Top 25 Top Schools in Foreign Languages & Linguistics

#1

Bucknell University

Lewisburg, PA

Our analysis found Bucknell University to be the best school for foreign languages and linguistics students who want to pursue a degree in the United States. Located in the distant town of Lewisburg, Bucknell is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

On average, foreign languages and linguistics graduates from Bucknell take out $23,250 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Foreign Languages & Linguistics at Bucknell University Report

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#2

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN

The excellent programs at University of Notre Dame helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best foreign languages and linguistics schools in the United States. Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Notre Dame.

The average amount in student loans that foreign languages and linguistics majors at Notre Dame take out is $19,000.

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#3

College of Saint Benedict

Saint Joseph, MN

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means College of Saint Benedict is a great place for foreign languages and linguistics students. Located in the suburb of Saint Joseph, CSB is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Foreign Languages & Linguistics majors at CSB take out an average of $22,250 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Foreign Languages & Linguistics at College of Saint Benedict Report

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#4

Colgate University

Hamilton, NY

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Colgate University is a great place for foreign languages and linguistics students. Colgate is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Hamilton.

Foreign Languages & Linguistics majors at Colgate take out an average of $17,084 in student loans while working on their egree.

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Out of the 247 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Southern Methodist University landed the # 5 spot on the list. SMU is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Dallas.

Foreign Languages & Linguistics majors at SMU take out an average of $18,740 in student loans while working on their egree.

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#6

Colby College

Waterville, ME

Colby College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for foreign languages and linguistics students. It came in at #6 on the list. Colby is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Waterville.

Foreign Languages & Linguistics majors at Colby take out an average of $18,940 in student loans while working on their egree.

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#7

Hamilton College

Clinton, NY

Hamilton College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Foreign Languages & Linguistics Schools ranking. Located in the suburb of Clinton, Hamilton is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

The average amount in student loans that foreign languages and linguistics majors at Hamilton take out is $16,500.

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#8

Duke University

Durham, NC

Duke University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for foreign languages and linguistics students. It came in at #8 on the list. Duke is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Durham.

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University of Missouri - Columbia ranked #9 on this year’s Best Foreign Languages & Linguistics Schools list. Mizzou is a very large public school located in the medium-sized city of Columbia.

Foreign Languages & Linguistics majors at Mizzou take out an average of $20,293 in student loans while working on their egree.

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Columbia University in the City of New York landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best foreign languages and linguistics programs. Located in the large city of New York, Columbia is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.

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#11

University of Virginia - Main Campus

Charlottesville, VA

University of Virginia - Main Campus came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Foreign Languages & Linguistics Schools ranking. Located in the small suburb of Charlottesville, University of Virginia is a public school with a very large student population.

After completing their degree, foreign languages and linguistics graduates from University of Virginia carry an average student debtload of $17,500.

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University of Wisconsin - Whitewater came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Foreign Languages & Linguistics Schools ranking. Located in the town of Whitewater, UW - Whitewater is a public college with a fairly large student population.

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With a ranking of #13, University of Wisconsin - La Crosse did quite well on this year’s best schools for foreign languages and linguistics students. Located in the small city of La Crosse, UW - La Crosse is a public school with a fairly large student population.

While working on their degree, foreign languages and linguistics majors at UW - La Crosse accumulate an average of around $25,864 in student debt.

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#14

Brandeis University

Waltham, MA

With a ranking of #14, Brandeis University did quite well on this year’s best schools for foreign languages and linguistics students. Brandeis is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Waltham.

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#15

Denison University

Granville, OH

Denison University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for foreign languages and linguistics students. It came in at #15 on the list. Located in the suburb of Granville, Denison is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

While working on their degree, foreign languages and linguistics majors at Denison accumulate an average of around $24,375 in student debt.

Full Foreign Languages & Linguistics at Denison University Report

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#16

Clemson University

Clemson, SC

Clemson University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for foreign languages and linguistics students. It came in at #16 on the list. Clemson is a very large public school located in the suburb of Clemson.

After completing their degree, foreign languages and linguistics graduates from Clemson carry an average student debtload of $22,838.

Full Foreign Languages & Linguistics at Clemson University Report

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#17

Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, NC

Wake Forest University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for foreign languages and linguistics students. It came in at #17 on the list. Wake Forest University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winston-Salem.

The average amount in student loans that foreign languages and linguistics majors at Wake Forest University take out is $20,807.

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#18

Lake Forest College

Lake Forest, IL

With a ranking of #18, Lake Forest College did quite well on this year’s best schools for foreign languages and linguistics students. Lake Forest is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lake Forest.

While working on their degree, foreign languages and linguistics majors at Lake Forest accumulate an average of around $26,474 in student debt.

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With a ranking of #19, Iowa State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for foreign languages and linguistics students. Iowa State is a very large public school located in the city of Ames.

The average amount in student loans that foreign languages and linguistics majors at Iowa State take out is $26,250.

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#20

Georgetown University

Washington, DC

Georgetown University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Foreign Languages & Linguistics Schools list. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown is a private not-for-profit school with a very large student population.

While working on their degree, foreign languages and linguistics majors at Georgetown accumulate an average of around $16,710 in student debt.

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#21

Wellesley College

Wellesley, MA

Wellesley College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for foreign languages and linguistics students. It came in at #21 on the list. Located in the suburb of Wellesley, Wellesley is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

After completing their degree, foreign languages and linguistics graduates from Wellesley carry an average student debtload of $10,000.

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#22

Tufts University

Medford, MA

Tufts University landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best foreign languages and linguistics programs. Located in the suburb of Medford, Tufts is a private not-for-profit school with a large student population.

After completing their degree, foreign languages and linguistics graduates from Tufts carry an average student debtload of $16,000.

Full Foreign Languages & Linguistics at Tufts University Report

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#23

Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, VA

With a ranking of #23, Virginia Tech did quite well on this year’s best schools for foreign languages and linguistics students. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Tech is a public college with a fairly large student population.

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With a ranking of #24, Texas A&M University - College Station did quite well on this year’s best schools for foreign languages and linguistics students. Located in the midsize city of College Station, Texas A&M College Station is a public college with a very large student population.

Foreign Languages & Linguistics majors at Texas A&M College Station take out an average of $18,053 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Foreign Languages & Linguistics at Texas A&M University - College Station

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#25

Vassar College

Poughkeepsie, NY

Vassar College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Foreign Languages & Linguistics Schools list. Vassar is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie.

The average amount in student loans that foreign languages and linguistics majors at Vassar take out is $19,000.

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Rest of the Top Best Foreign Languages & Linguistics Schools

#26

Marist College

Poughkeepsie, NY
#28

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN
#29

George Washington University

Washington, DC
#30

Brown University

Providence, RI
#33

Gallaudet University

Washington, DC
#35

DePauw University

Greencastle, IN
#36

George Mason University

Fairfax, VA
#37

Villanova University

Villanova, PA

Honorable Mentions

Here are some additional great schools for Foreign Languages & Linguistics students that almost earned our Best Foreign Languages & Linguistics Schools award.

Rank College Location
38 Salisbury University Salisbury, MD
39 College of the Holy Cross Worcester, MA
40 Wofford College Spartanburg, SC
41 Calvin University Grand Rapids, MI
42 University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA
43 Minnesota State University - Mankato Mankato, MN
44 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL
45 University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA
46 University of Minnesota - Duluth Duluth, MN
47 University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Eau Claire, WI
48 Illinois State University Normal, IL
49 University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PA

Foreign Languages & Linguistics by Region

View the Best Foreign Languages & Linguistics Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Great Lakes

Foreign Languages & Linguistics Majors to Study

Major Annual Graduates
Romance Languages 15,009
Linguistics & Comparative Literature 8,539
American Sign Language 2,724
East Asian Languages 2,293
Classical Languages & Literature 1,428
Germanic Languages 1,425
Slavic, Baltic & Albanian Languages 607
Middle Eastern Semitic Languages 607
Foreign Language, Literature & Linguistics (Other) 500
Second Language Learning 108
Southeast Asian & Pacific Languages 38
South Asian Languages 24
Native American Languages 16
Celtic Language & Literature 4
African Languages 4
Iranian & Persian Languages 4
Greek Language & Literature 3

Majors Similar to Foreign Languages & Linguistics

Related Major Annual Graduates
Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities 556,813
Visual & Performing Arts 149,215
English Language & Literature 54,635
Theology & Religious Vocations 27,459
Philosophy & Religious Studies 19,993

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to John Stephen Dwyer.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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